Allan Rocher

Allan Rocher (16 February 1936 – 18 March 2016), Australian politician, was a Liberal Party of Australia Senator for Western Australia from 1978 to 1981 and member of the Australian House of Representatives Division of Curtin from 1981 to 1998. Up until 1996 he represented the Liberal Party of Australia.

Allan Rocher
Senator for Western Australia
In office 1 July 1978 – 10 February 1981
Succeeded by	John Martyr
Member of the Australian Parliament for Curtin
In office 21 February 1981 – 3 October 1998
Preceded by	Victor Garland
Succeeded by	Julie Bishop
Personal details
Born	(1936-02-16)16 February 1936 Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia
Died	18 March 2016(2016-03-18) (aged 80) Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal (1978–95) Independent (1995–98)

Rocher was born in Deloraine, Tasmania. He worked as a commercial arbitrator and then as a registered builder. He eventually became president of the Master Builders' Association of Western Australia.[1]

Rocher was elected as a Senator for Western Australia at the 1977 election, taking up his seat on 1 July 1978. He won Liberal Party endorsement to contest Curtin at the Curtin by-election on 21 February 1981, following the resignation from Parliament of Victor Garland. This preselection was also contested by fellow Senator Fred Chaney. Rocher resigned from the Senate on 10 February 1981 in order to stand at the by-election, which he won. He held the seat until 1998. He was Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from August 1992 to April 1993.[1] In March 1994 he was elected as the inaugural second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.[2]

Rocher lost Liberal Party endorsement for the seat prior to the 1996 election to Ken Court, the brother of then WA Premier Richard Court, and then resigned from the Liberal Party.[3] He successfully recontested his seat as an Independent in that election, winning with 29.4% of the primary vote and the aid of Australian Labor Party preferences. Although an independent Rocher was unsuccessful in getting Liberal preselection for Curtin for the 1998 election despite getting the support of his friend Prime Minister John Howard.[4]

Rocher lost his seat to Liberal candidate Julie Bishop at the 1998 election, his vote having dropped to 17.7%. He was later appointed Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles. He died on 18 March 2016, aged 80.[5]

References

1. "Biography for Rocher, Allan Charles". Parliament of Australia. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
2. "Appendix 3—Deputy Speakers". House of Representatives Practice (7th ed.). Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
3. Attard, Monica; McNamara John (7 August 1995). "Allan Rocher resigns from the Liberal Party". PM. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
4. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/julie-bishop-the-interview/story-e6frg6n6-1226574576208
5. The West Australian. Retrieved 18 April 2016

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Victor Garland	Member for Curtin 1981–1998	Succeeded by Julie Bishop
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Michael Johnson	Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles 1999–2002	Succeeded by John Olsen